Kraven the Hunter Adds Yet Another Unwanted Box Office Record

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Summary

  • Kraven the Hunter‘s second weekend saw a steep -71.8% drop at the box office.
  • The film’s poor performance reflects a mix of sour precedence, poor reviews, and stiff competition.
  • Kraven the Hunter has struggled to make back even two-thirds of its $110 million budget.

As someone who has followed the ups and downs of comic book movies for decades, it’s disheartening to see Kraven the Hunter struggle so mightily at the box office. I remember the excitement when Venom first graced our screens, and now here we are with Kraven, a film that seems destined to be remembered as the low point of Sony’s Spider-Man universe.

As a dedicated moviegoer, I can’t help but share my disappointment as Kraven the Hunter continues to struggle at the box office, adding yet another dismal weekend performance to its tally, marking another low point for Sony Pictures.

The production for “Kraven the Hunter” was completed in 2022, however, its release was postponed due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. With notable stars like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Russell Crowe, and Ariana DeBose, expectations were high. Unfortunately, the theatrical premiere of “Kraven the Hunter” has been hit hard by both critical and commercial failures, surpassing even the dismal performances of previous flops in Sony’s Spider-Man universe such as “Morbius” and “Madame Web”. The film’s disappointing $26 million global opening has sparked speculation about Sony selling the Spider-Man rights back to Marvel and rumors that “Kraven the Hunter” marks the end of its franchise, although these have not been officially confirmed yet.

Kraven the Hunter’s Second Weekend Drop Is Among the Steepest for Comic Book Movies

As a movie-loving critic, I must confess that the second three-day weekend for “Kraven the Hunter” was anything but impressive. According to Box Office Mojo and verified by box office analyst Luiz Fernando on X, this film has only managed to earn $3.1 million – a staggering 71.8% drop from its opening weekend’s $15 million haul. This is not just the steepest decline in any film within the Sony Spider-Man franchise but also places it among the most disappointing movies when it comes to second-weekend drops at the box office.

Comic Book Movies With The Biggest Second Weekend Drops
Joker: Folie à Deux -81.4%
The Marvels -78.1%
Steel -78%
Morbius -73.8%
The Flash -72.5%
Kraven the Hunter -71.8%
The Suicide Squad & Dark Phoenix -71.5%
Hellboy 2 -70.7%
Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania -69.9%
Hulk -67.7%

Luckily for Kraven the Hunter, it didn’t set the record for the largest second-weekend drop among comic book movies; that title goes to Joker: Folie à Deux with its -81.4% drop. Unfortunately, these figures are more dismal than the franchise’s lowest earnings of $11 million during its opening weekend in the domestic market. As of now, Kraven the Hunter has earned $42.8 million against an estimated production cost of $110 million.

It’s plausible that the poor performance of “Kraven the Hunter” at the box office, despite Sony’s intense marketing efforts, director J.C. Chandor’s request for audience support, and hints of connections to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, was due to a concoction of negative past impressions, unfavorable criticisms, anxiety from the film’s team, and tough competition. The release of “Mufasa” and “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” particularly the latter with its impressive $62 million US opening weekend, seems to have sealed the box office destiny of “Kraven the Hunter.

In its second week and third weekend at the box office, it’s evident that Kraven the Hunter is likely to fall short in recovering more than two-thirds of its budget by the end of its theatrical run. Moreover, it’s shaping up to be the most noteworthy addition to Sony’s Spider-Man universe, following the initial triumph of Venom.

Kraven the Hunter was released on December 13 and is currently showing in cinemas worldwide.

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2024-12-23 23:06